Per Se Meaning (Not "Per Say"): Usage and Examples
Per se means "in itself," "by itself," or "as such." When someone says "The idea isn't bad per se," they mean the idea is not bad in itself, though something around it, such as the timing or cost, may be a problem.
The phrase is Latin, and its spelling trips up many writers because it sounds like "per say." This guide explains the correct spelling, pronunciation, the grammar of how per se fits into a sentence, its precise legal meaning, plenty of examples, and the mistakes that make careful readers wince.
Quick answer: Per se (pur SAY) = "in itself," "intrinsically," "as such." "Money isn't evil per se." It is never spelled per say. Don't use it to mean "for example" or "so to speak."
On this page
The core meaning
Per se separates a thing from the things associated with it. It isolates the thing "as itself."
Consider: "I don't dislike exercise per se; I just hate getting up early." The speaker is separating exercise itself from a related circumstance (early mornings). The structure is almost always:
[Thing] is not [quality] per se + [the real issue].
Some more:
- "The software isn't slow per se; the problem is the old laptops."
- "Coffee isn't unhealthy per se, but three a day might be too many for you."
- "I wasn't lying per se. I just didn't mention it."
Literal translation
In Latin, per means "through" or "by," and se means "itself" (or "himself," "herself," "themselves"). So per se is literally "by itself" or "through itself."
Part of speech
Per se functions as an adverb in most English sentences, modifying an adjective, verb or whole clause. It can also act like an adjective after a noun, especially in legal writing: "a per se violation," "per se negligence."
Pronunciation
| Pronunciation | Where you'll hear it | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| pur SAY | most common in US, UK, AU | the safe choice |
| pur SEE | some speakers, especially older or classically trained | closer to traditional English pronunciation of Latin |
| pair SAY | some speakers | influenced by reconstructed Latin |
Because the most common pronunciation sounds exactly like "per say," people often spell it that way. The fix is simple: remember the Latin se.
Why it's spelled "per se"
Here's the issue in one line: say is an English verb, and it makes no sense in the phrase. "Per say" would mean something like "through saying," which isn't what anyone intends.
Common incorrect versions:
- ❌ per say
- ❌ persay
- ❌ per-se (no hyphen needed, except sometimes in compound adjectives before a noun in legal writing, and even then usually without)
- ❌ per sey
- ✅ per se
Auto-correct doesn't always catch "per say" because both words are real. Proofread for it.
Italics or not?
Most dictionaries and general style guides treat per se as fully naturalized English, so it's written in regular type. You'll still see it in italics in some legal, philosophical and academic texts, following the older habit of italicizing Latin. Either way, be consistent within one document.
The legal meaning
Law gives per se a sharper meaning. A per se rule treats something as automatically unlawful or automatically established, with no need to prove further facts like intent or harm.
- In US antitrust law, certain agreements between competitors, such as price-fixing, have traditionally been treated as per se illegal: the agreement itself is the violation.
- Negligence per se is a US legal doctrine where breaking a safety statute can establish negligence without further argument about whether the conduct was reasonable.
- Many US states have per se drink-driving laws, under which driving above a specified blood-alcohol level is itself an offense, regardless of whether the driver appeared impaired.
British and Australian legal writing uses per se too, though the specific doctrines and terms differ by jurisdiction. If you're writing about law, check the exact usage in that system.
Examples in context
Everyday
- "I'm not a cat person per se, but I love my neighbor's cat."
- "The film wasn't scary per se; it was more unsettling."
- "We don't need a bigger house per se, just a better kitchen."
- "It's not the rain per se that bothers me in Leeds; it's the wind."
- "My grandmother isn't strict per se, she just has a lot of rules."
Workplace and email
- "The proposal isn't wrong per se, but it doesn't address the timeline."
- "I'm not opposed to remote work per se; I'm worried about onboarding new staff."
- "The cost isn't a problem per se. It's the delay in approval."
- "There's no policy against it per se, but please check with HR."
- "Our Brisbane office doesn't have a dress code per se."
Academic
- "Wealth per se does not predict happiness, according to the theory under discussion."
- "The author argues that technology per se is neutral; its uses are not."
- "This chapter is not about grammar per se but about how readers process sentences."
- "Rhyme per se was less important to these poets than rhythm."
News-style
- "The minister said the scheme was not a tax per se, but critics disagreed."
- "Officials in Ohio stressed that the closure was not a ban per se."
- "The court ruled that the conduct was not unlawful per se."
- "Experts said the app wasn't dangerous per se, but parents should monitor its use."
Chat-style
Sam: do you hate the new office? Tess: not per se. i hate the commute
Jordan: are you a morning person? Kim: not per se, more of a 'coffee first' person
Luca: was it a date? Ivy: not a date per se… just dinner. with candles.
Common mistakes and misuses
1. Spelling it "per say"
❌ "It's not a problem per say." ✅ "It's not a problem per se."
2. Using it to mean "for example"
❌ "I like citrus fruits, per se, oranges and lemons." ✅ "I like citrus fruits, for example, oranges and lemons."
If you're unsure about Latin abbreviations generally, our guide to i.e. vs e.g. explains the difference between "that is" and "for example."
3. Using it to mean "so to speak" or "exactly"
❌ "He's the boss, per se, of the group chat." (meaning "so to speak") ✅ "He's the boss, so to speak, of the group chat."
This misuse is common in speech. Per se isolates a thing from its circumstances; "so to speak" signals a figurative phrase.
4. Using it as a filler word
❌ "I was, like, per se, really tired." ✅ "I was really tired."
5. Putting it in an odd position
❌ "Per se, I don't hate the plan." ✅ "I don't hate the plan per se."
Per se usually comes right after the word or phrase it qualifies. Starting a sentence with it is awkward.
A five-second test
Swap per se for "in itself." If the sentence still means what you intended, keep per se. If you find yourself wanting "for example," "so to speak," "exactly" or nothing at all, per se is the wrong tool.
- "The commute isn't long in itself." ✅ per se works.
- "I like Aussie snacks, in itself, Tim Tams." ❌ you meant "for example."
Editing exercise
This email draft from a project manager in Adelaide contains three problems with per se. Find them.
Hi all, the new booking system isn't bad per say. The issue, per se, is training. Some teams, per se, the Perth office, haven't had a session yet. I'll set one up this week.
Answers:
- per say should be per se.
- "The issue, per se, is training" uses per se as a filler. Write "The real issue is training."
- "Some teams, per se, the Perth office" means "for example." Write "Some teams, such as the Perth office, …"
The corrected email: "Hi all, the new booking system isn't bad per se. The real issue is training. Some teams, such as the Perth office, haven't had a session yet. I'll set one up this week."
Why speakers love per se
Per se is useful because it lets you disagree carefully. Instead of rejecting an idea outright, you separate the idea from the part that bothers you. Compare:
- "I don't like the new policy." (blunt rejection)
- "I don't dislike the new policy per se. My concern is how quickly it's being introduced." (precise, diplomatic)
The second version keeps the conversation open. That's why the phrase turns up so often in meetings, reviews and negotiations. It works like other softening phrases such as "to be fair" or "honestly"; if you're curious how those function in casual chat, see our guide to TBH.
The risk is overuse. If every objection begins "It's not X per se," listeners may feel you're avoiding a straight answer. Use it when the distinction is real, and say plainly what the actual issue is.
Per se with negatives and positives
Per se appears most often in negative sentences ("not bad per se"), because its job is usually to say "the thing itself isn't the problem." It can work in positive sentences too, especially in formal writing: "The data per se are reliable; the interpretation is where the authors go wrong." (If you're wondering about "data are" there, see data is vs data are.)
In speech, a common pattern is the trailing qualification: "It's not a date… per se." The pause and the per se together suggest that something about the situation is more complicated than the speaker wants to admit, which is why it's often used humorously.
Per se and similar expressions
| Expression | Meaning | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| per se | in itself | "Not bad per se." | Latin, very common |
| as such | in itself / in the strict sense | "There's no fee as such." | English equivalent, often interchangeable |
| in itself | intrinsically | "That isn't a problem in itself." | plain English, safest |
| intrinsically | by its nature | "Intrinsically valuable." | formal |
| exactly | precisely | "Not exactly a date." | casual alternative |
| strictly speaking | in the precise sense | "Strictly speaking, it's a fruit." | neutral |
| so to speak | figuratively | "He's our anchor, so to speak." | NOT the same as per se |
| bona fide | genuine | "a bona fide expert" | another Latin phrase |
| ad hoc | for this purpose | "an ad hoc meeting" | another Latin phrase |
| vice versa | the other way around | "and vice versa" | another Latin phrase |
"As such" and "in itself" are the best plain-English substitutes. If you're writing for a broad audience, they're often clearer.
US vs UK vs Australia
Per se has the same spelling, meaning and grammar in all three countries. There is no regional variant.
- United States: Common in speech, business writing and especially law, where "per se" rules and "negligence per se" are established terms. Pur SAY is the dominant pronunciation.
- United Kingdom: Equally common in educated speech and writing. Pronunciation is usually pur SAY; pur SEE survives among some older speakers. British English uses "as such" very frequently as an alternative.
- Australia: Used the same way; pur SAY is typical. Australian legal writing also uses the term, following the broader common-law tradition.
The phrase is equally at home in a Leeds university seminar, a Melbourne law firm and an Ohio boardroom. The only thing that differs is how often people choose the plain-English alternatives.
Memory trick
Remember: se = self. Per se = "by itself." There's no "saying" involved, so there's no "say." If you can swap in "in itself" and the sentence still makes sense, per se is the right choice.
Practice quiz
- Choose the correct spelling: "The plan isn't flawed ___." (a) per say (b) per se (c) persay
- Which sentence uses per se correctly? (a) "I love sports, per se, cricket and netball." (b) "I don't love sport per se, but I enjoy watching cricket with friends."
- Fill the blank with a plain-English equivalent: "The software isn't slow per se" = "The software isn't slow ___."
- True or false: Per se should always be italicized.
- In US law, a "per se" violation is one that (a) needs proof of intent (b) is unlawful in itself (c) is minor.
- Fix the sentence: "She's the leader, per se, of our study group." (meaning "so to speak")
Answers
- (b) — Se is Latin for "itself"; "say" is wrong.
- (b) — Per se means "in itself," not "for example."
- in itself (or "as such") — The best plain-English substitutes.
- False — Most general style guides set it in regular type.
- (b) — A per se rule applies regardless of other facts.
- "She's the leader, so to speak, of our study group." — Per se doesn't mean "so to speak."
How to use per se with confidence
Use per se when you want to separate a thing from what surrounds it: "not bad per se, just badly timed." Spell it with the Latin se, place it right after what it qualifies, and if you catch yourself using it to mean "for example" or "so to speak," switch to those phrases instead. When in doubt, "in itself" says the same thing in plain English.
Frequently asked questions
Is it 'per se' or 'per say'?
The correct spelling is per se. It is a Latin phrase, and se is the Latin word for itself. Per say is a common misspelling based on the pronunciation, and it is not accepted in standard English.
What does 'not per se' mean?
Not per se means not in itself or not exactly. For example, 'I'm not against the plan per se' means you don't object to the plan as such, but you may have concerns about something related to it, such as the cost or timing.
Do you italicize per se?
Usually not. Per se is so well established in English that most style guides and dictionaries treat it as an ordinary English phrase, so it is set in roman type. Some legal and academic writers italicize it by convention.
What does per se mean in law?
In law, per se describes something that is automatically treated as a violation or as established, without needing further proof. A per se rule or per se violation applies regardless of intent or effect.
Can I use per se to mean 'for example'?
No. Per se means in itself, not for example. Writing 'fruits, per se, apples and pears' is a mistake; use for example, such as or e.g. instead.
How do you pronounce per se?
In English it is usually pronounced pur SAY. Some speakers say pur SEE or pair SAY. Pur SAY is the most widely used in the US, UK and Australia.